Nick Knight in The Tiger's Tale

This is my film created for the 48 Hour Film Project. It's called Nick Knight in The Tiger's Tale. This is how the film was premiered. We'll be doing a director's cut in the near future.

Chalk Dog

I still have a lot of studio work in non-disclosure limbo. Since I usually retain all the rights to my driveway art, I'll share this weekend's piece.

You can see a straight-on view at the chalk-o-holic blog.

48 Hour Film Project

I'd like to invite everyone to the premier of my film, "Nick Knight in ... 'The Tiger's Tale.'" I helped create this film for the 48 Hour Film Project. "The Tiger's Tale" is a film noir-type detective movie, but with some unexpected twists and turns in it's whopping 7-minute run time. Like every film in the 48 Hour Film Project, it had to have these exact elements: a fork, a character named Lynn or Len Pellaton, and the line, "What the hell is this?"

I hope you can make it out to see my – ahem! – directoral debut. The movie is screening during the 3 p.m. block.

Premiere Screenings

Date:	Saturday June 27th
Time:	10:00am-9:00pm
Place:	Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011
Tickets:	$10.00

Black Beauty is Out!

The early reader version of Black Beauty I illustrated was released today. Yay! The book was really challenging with all the horses, costume, architecture, tack, etc. The story has a lot of sad parts but at least all is good in the end.

Here is my favorite spread. Fellow illustrators' lunch regular Dave Hartz was the model (for the cabbie-not the horse).

22 Panels That Always Work

This is the famous "22 Panels That Always Work," created by Wally Wood, the superb dramatic and satiric comic book artist. They're a wonderful aid for graphic storytelling, suggesting ways to add drama and variety to comics and individual illustrations.

Higher-resolution scans and more about this piece can be found at the blog of Joel Johnson, the art's owner. Thank you, Joel, for making this available to us all.

These drawings were allegedly created by Wood as a cheat sheet for himself. He didn't need it...

...but sometimes the rest of us do.

Sketch for New Painting

In honor of Father's Day, here is the sketch for a large painting I am working on called: "Peter and Flopsy Plus Eight". I had first planned to do this on a 16" by 20" piece of masonite, but wussed out and am doing it on cold press illustration board (acrylic on gesso) instead. Ever since I started this sketch, I have seen a lot of rabbits around in the yard, biking, eating my garden, etc. I am not sure what this means, but it is a little odd...

Cincinnati Rollergirls- Battle of the Buckeye

Hey everyone, once you're done with Christina's book signing on Saturday the 20th you could come on over to the Gardens for the Cincinnati Rollergirls' final home bout! I did this poster for it, at first it was challenging for me to figure out how to indicate that it was a battle between Cincy and Columbus without using a buckeye or a plant or anything because those things arent really recognizeable to me (especially if I drew it in my style)- but hey I think the flag works and is more exciting.

Also, We are now selling posters of each bout of the season, as well as a "value" set of all five home bouts - and we're getting our first t-shirt in soon! I am manufacturing all of this stuff through my company, and it's been fun so far, and I'm glad that CRG came to an agreement about it with me! All of this stuff is available at the bouts, and we also have an online store now: www.derbyrama.com

If you come on Saturday be sure to say hi, I'll be at the merch booth!

Cover Art for New Bengals Book By Jerry Dowling

From Jerry: Here's the cover of my new book about the Bengals when they were actually good-Hence the Star Wars reference-in another millenium. It has 261 drawings in it plus the writing. Foreward by former Bengals All Pro tight end Bob Trumpy. Due out in September hopefully before they accidentally win a game.

Google Want Artists to Work for Free...

Check out this article in the New York Times that is making my head spin. We're trying to link art and commerce as we build value to the visual voice.

http://visualambassador.com/2009/06/15/new-york-times-google/

Gift Caricatures by Jerry Dowling

From Jerry: Every year I do two of these for Ohio State graduates.

CityBeat Art by Jerry Dowling

From Jerry: CityBeat this week. I'm supposed to stick with loacl subjects, but I figured Columbus is close enough plus Tiger is big news anywhere. I used the Nike 'SWOOSH' icon as the basis for this one.

Last-minute trainer

The latest DVM Newsmagazine illustration. This one's about a guy who all of a sudden expects his dog to know/obey his commands when they visit the vet.

Announcement: Tamara Schmitz

While you are at the Blue Marble Anniversary Celebration, congratulate Tamara Schmitz for winning Honorable Mention at the New York Book Festival last week. What an achievement!

30th Anniversary Author and Illustrator Festival at Blue Marble

One June 20th, Blue Marble is having a big bash with Illustrators and Authors signing all day.

This includes Loren Long, Will Hillenbrand, Tamara Schmitz, Christina Wald, and many others!(Click here for full list and times.)

Hope to see you all there!

Cincinnati Rollergirls Fundraiser

I thought others may be interested, I am also donating some stuff to this:

The Cincinnati Rollergirls are having an art show/auction at the Northside Gallery from Wednesday, July 15th - Saturday August 1st, with an opening and closing reception.  This event is a fundraiser for the Cincinnati Rollergirls, so the proceeds will be donated to CRG.  

This is where you come in...

We need rollergirl/derby themed art to display and hopefully sell!   We can accommodate all types of media and would like to have a diverse range of pieces.   Also, think about small pieces that we can sell easily and make a quick profit.  I'm thinking, small photos, jewelry, sculptures, etc.

Photogs:  We would love to show any pieces you have left from the Rock-n-Rollergirls show and/or any new stuff.

The deadline for completed pieces is Friday, July 10th.  We will be installing pieces that weekend to be ready for the opening that wednesday.

I would also like a brief description of what you will be creating by the end of June so that I can start planning the exhibition.

Contact Emily Joy (sk8 Crime) for info or to submit at museofjoy@gmail.com

Announcement: Graphic Novel Signing

Carol Tyler is signing her new graphic novel "You'll Never Know, Book One: A Good and Decent Man" at Shake It Records on Saturday June 13th from 5-7 PM.

Also, her father, 90 year old WWII veteran Chuck Tyler will also be there to sign copies of the book!

UPDATE: Publishers Weekly gave Carol a starred review for the book! Check it out!

Dennis Porter: “Can you draw me something DIFFERENT??”

From Dennis Porter:

Well, sure!

Different is usually even more fun.

My client for theis project was a fine young man named Kevin, wanting something for his family gatherings this summer-something to play up the competition between the USA military service branches in his relatives, the friendly frictions between Army and Air Force.

He knew exactly what he wanted; I can take no credit for creativity here. The images are above.

Kevin writes:

Dennis,

Just wanted to thank you again. I have finally been able to get the boards out and they are a huge hit.

Kevin

As I say, different is usually fun. This one did not even involve caricature, nor ink or even paper. A weird tech problem with the project was the manufacturer of the boards would NOT release the information on what kind of paint was used. If I used the wrong pigment the image might just peel off in the first rain, so that was not an option. Eventually they relented, and I am grateful.

-Dennis

Craig McKay Wins Reuben Award!

Local illustrator Craig McKay just won a Reuben Award in the Advertising Illustration category from the National Cartoonists Society.

This his third award in that category!

http://www.reuben.org/news

Check out his website: http://monkeywithcrayon.com